Dick Blume / The Post StandardRobert Jorth, executive administrator of the Kalamazoo Promise, addresses the Metropolitan Development Association's annual meeting Tuesday at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter. In the center is MDA president Robert Simpson; at right is John O. Norquist, former mayor of Milwaukee and head of the Congress for the New Urbanism.

Syracuse, NY -- Tough economic times are upon us, but the Syracuse area is better prepared than most to survive and thrive, the new head of the Metropolitan Development Association told about 1,000 people at the economic development organization's annual meeting today.

"Unemployment is higher than it's been since 1992," said Robert Simpson, who succeeded long-time MDA president and chief executive officer Irwin Davis in January. "We have all watched as projects have fallen victim to tighter credit markets. Companies that have been pillars of our community for years, decades, sometimes centuries, have stumble, even failed. I can say with absolute confidence, however, that Central Upstate New York is better positioned than much of the nation."

Simpson said the area's economy is diverse, its housing market has avoided the collapse seen in other parts of the country, and its educational institutions remain strong.

"I can't think of a better time for Syracuse and central Upstate New York to step forward than when the rest of the world pauses to catch its collective breath," he told the audience at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter.

Widetronix Inc., an Ithaca company that is developing very small, long-life batteries for use in defense and medical devices, won the $100,000 grand prize Tuesday in the New York's Creative Core Emerging Business Competition.
Widetronix was among five finalists picked from 76 contestants. The award is given annually by the Central Upstate Regional Alliance to the area's "most innovative and growth-oriented business."
Thousand Islands Winery, of Alexandria Bay, won the $15,000 Innovations in AgriBusiness prize. New York's northernmost winery was started by Steve and Erika Conaway after his retirement from the military.

He said the MDA, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will continue to focus on its "core" missions -- promoting business development, infrastructure improvements and work force talent initiatives.

But Simpson said that, during times of uncertainty, the region must focus on projects that can transform its economy, rather than attempting to take on many things but accomplishing little.

Two other speakers at the meeting described how two projects helped to turn their cities around.

John Norquist, as mayor of Milwaukee from 1988 to 2004, called for the removal of a mile-long stretch of elevated highway in the city. The highway eventually came down and was replaced by a surface street, clearing the way for $250 million in new development.

Norquist said Syracuse can do the same by taking down the elevated sections of Interstate 81 through downtown.

"Syracuse has a choice," said Norquist, now president and chief executive officer of the Congress for the New Urbanism in Chicago, which promotes walkable, neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl. "Syracuse can listen to advice from people who worry just about traffic counts and don't understand the purpose of urban streets. I recommend that you try to focus on things that add value to the city."

Robert Jorth, executive administrator of the Kalamazoo Promise, a privately funded program that gives graduates of Kalamazoo, Mich., public schools scholarships to 43 public colleges and universities, said the program has helped to bring people back to the city after years of suburban flight.

He said a similar program could work in Syracuse.

"It's easy to replicate," he said after the meeting. "You have to have the will and obviously the commitment and the funds."